Bilodeau, Red Deer blank Airdrie in Game 5

AIRDRIE – Bucking the trend.

Branden Bilodeau was a brick wall, stopping all 39 shots he faced to help the Red Deer Vipers take a 4-0 win over Airdrie Thunder on Tuesday night, giving them a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven North Division semifinal series.

The victory was the first by a visiting team all series.

Brett Hoppus had a pair of goals for Red Deer, while Logan Linnell chipped in with a goal and two assists.

Hoppus scored the lone goal of the opening frame to give the Vipers a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes, while Hoppus and Carter Trenerry each found the back of the net exactly one minute apart late in the second period to make it a three-goal cushion.

Linnell sealed the deal with a power-play marker midway through the third period.

Joel Lepper stopped 26-of-30 shots between the pipes for the Thunder.

Red Deer will look to punch their ticket to the North Division finals on Wednesday night in Game 6. Puck drop from the Collicutt Centre in Red Deer goes at 8:00pm.

GAME SUMMARY